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Pressure Mounts on Merkel for Bigger Fiscal Boost

By

Marcus Walker

Updated Dec. 10, 2008 12:01 a.m. ET

BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing mounting pressure to boost her stimulus plans for Europe's largest economy and reverse a thrifty strategy that has her out of step with other nations.

She will likely be challenged on the point when European Union leaders gather for a summit Thursday. On Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met to discuss policies to revive the European economy -- without inviting the German chancellor. Both men have announced ambitious fiscal,...